Student Health Visitor

Job summary

As a Health visitor working in Derbyshire, you can make a real difference to children, young people, families, and communities. You will play a fundamental role in the delivery of universal and targeted interventions as part of the Healthy Child Programme, preventing social exclusion, deprivation and tackling important public health issues.

The Healthy Child Programme (HCP) Pregnancy and the first five years of life (DH, 2009) is a preventative service delivery model; setting out key priorities, performance indicators and mandate contacts for the HV service and commissioners to offer individualised support for children and families, which identifies and meets health needs; under the core universal, universal plus and universal partnership plus levels of service delivery. The delivery of the HCP is evidence based and crucial to meeting the outcomes of Every Child Matters (HM Government, 2004) and The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services (DH, 2004).

Every day working as a Health Visitor is different, with responsibilities including home visits, supporting groups for parents, and working with a range of local children's agencies and professionals.

Health visitors are enthusiastic about developing effective and efficient partnership working across services, which is a key element of the HCP programme and aim to improve outcomes for children and families.

Main duties of the job

Please note it is now a requirement of this post that you have current NMC registration at the time of completing your application form.

Through this application process you are applying for a place at Derby or Sheffield Hallam University (Programme is subject to approval in June 2024 with University)

To undertake required study with affiliated university achieving both clinical practice and university-based learning to gain the standards of proficiency for entry for NMC registration for Specialist Community Public Health Nurse.

DCHS will provide the student with a learning environment which will enable the student to develop knowledge, skills and competencies to take on the role of a Qualified Specialist Community Public Health Nurse within Health Visiting.

To gain the knowledge, skills and competence required to exercise higher levels of clinical judgement, discretion and evidenced based decision making in clinical care focusing upon four broad areas:

• Clinical Practice
• Community Engagement
• Clinical Practice Development
• Leadership in Clinical Practice

This is a development post, building upon existing knowledge, skills and competencies to achieve a higher level of practice resulting in an academic qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Annual leave for the duration of the course follows the academic timetable set by your chosen University.

About us

The course is full time for one year and will commence in September 2024 and it is fully funded and salaried (Agenda for Change mid-point band 5). It is expected that external candidates will join the organisation approximately one month prior to the course commencing to allow for induction and mandatory training to be completed. You will have a 12-month fixed term contract.

A full driving licence and access to a car are essential, and you must be available to commence on the stated starting date by the University you choose to attend.

Our purpose is to provide community health services to a patient population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, as part of Joined Up Care Derbyshire.

We employ around 4,200 substantive staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people's own homes and via virtual consultations.

During the pandemic response we have led the implementation of public vaccination centres in collaboration with partners across health and social care.